Game apparatus



H. LOEWENBACH.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED Dc.29, 1919.

Patented 001:. 4, 1921.

A HU amewenbah,

H. LoEWENAcH. GAME APPARATUS,

` v APPLICATION FILED DEC.29, 1919. 1,392,586, Patented Oct. 4,` 1921.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I' Y V m" E l ,WP n HuHnLnEwEn'banh UNITED gs'Tfl-Esf PATENT OFFICE.`

. HUGO LOEWENBACH,y OIE'` HRTLAND, 'WISCDNSINQ ASSIGNOR T0 *AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY CO., OF MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN.

GAME 'APPARATUS v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 4, 192,1.

Application led December 29, 1919. Serial No. 347,933.

My invention pertains to new and useful' improvements in pin setting mechanism for game apparatuses. l

The primary object of the'invention is to simplify and cheapen and otherwise improve thestructure illustrated in my Patent No. 1,289,280, issued Sept. 4,1917,

Specifically the improvements to which thisv invention relates are a novel means for attaching the several pins to their resetting cords, means for more accuratelyand quickly returning the upset pins 'fromy their prone to their upright positions, means for preventing wear betweenr certain parts of the resetting mechanism and the pins, and

means for quickly and elii'ciently adjusting the individual pins with respect to the resetting mechanism.

' A further important object of the inven,- tion resides in a ball return chute for use with my other features when the same are incorporated in a table game. The particular advantage ofthis return chute consists in the fact that it may be folded within the body of the table so that the latter can be readily packed in a small space for shipping or'storage when the legs have been removed.

With-,these objects, and the obvious advantages resulting therefrom in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter lmore particularly described andA claimed. f A In the accompanying drawings:

Fi'gure'l is a plan view of my invention embodied inv a table bowling lgame apparatus, the samebeing viewed from above.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the under side of the ytable apparatus. Fig. l3 represents a vertical longitudinal sectional View.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, and

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal section through the bottom end of a pin showing the manner of attaching a portion of the pin ref setting mechanismk thereto.

As herenbefore indicated the invention in the present instance is embodied in a table apparatus, but it is to be understood that the several features thereof may be easily and effectively incorporated in a standard floor bowling alley. Likewise it will be appreciated that various details in the form and proportion and in the relationship of the several parts maybe made without de parting from or sacrificing any of the features of the invention. vReferringmore particularly to the accompanying drawings,the numeral 1 designates a table supported at a proper height by legs 2 and having a central longitudinally extending alleyway 3, at each longitudinal sidev of which is a gutter 4- as is customary in most ten pin bowling games. A. retaining rim 5 extends around the opposite sides and' across one end of the table, the opposite end having a transversely extending ball receiving pocket 6.

A plurality, preferably ten, of pins 7 are arranged at the lastmentioned end ofthe table on the allewyay 3' and are disposed in a recess 8 formed in the latter, this recess having a bottom 9 disposed a sufficient distance below the surface of the alleyway 3 to substantially house the pins 7 when the same are in their prone position.

When thepins 7 are stood in upright position., each of them covers an opening l0 disposed through the bottom 9 of the recess 8 and is adapted to slidablyf receive a flexible cordV or the like 11. The pin attaching end of each of the cords 11 extends into a longitudinal bore 12 formed in the bottom'end of the pins, the inner end of this bore being open through the side of the pins as at 13. 'To Vconnect the cords 11 to the pins, the ends thereof are inserted into the bore 12 and after washers 14 are placed therearound, the same are knotted as at 15. A relatively loose connection is thus formed between the flexible cords 11 and the several pins 7 which are permitted to have a relatively rotary or turning action with respect to the knocking down the upright pins 7 and when in use is projected forcibly down the alleyway 3 toward the pins. `Afterthe pins have been knocked to prone position they are reset into an upright position by the resetting mechanism of which the flexible cords 11 form apart. The rest of the mechanism includes a reciprocative head 16 movable longitudinally of the table and beneath the same, a plurality of, one for each of the pins 7, relatively rigid rods 17, and an operating handle 18. The reciprocative head 16 being disposed intermediate the ends ofthe table, the handle 18 is projected from said head to a point adjacent the front end of saidv table. The handle is guided in its longitudinal movements by guide clips 19 secured to the under surface of said table.

`The rods 17 are adjustably secured in the head 16, and have theirv intermediate portions slidably supported on a transverse guide rod 20. The ends of the rods 17 opposite their connection with the head 16 are secured to the flexible cords 11 whereby the several ins 7 may be collectively and simultaneous y reset from prone to upright position by the proper manipulation of the handle 18. Y

The several flexible cords 11 are trained and `guided about a plurality of guide elements in the form of rods 21. (See Fig. 2.)

All of the parts which have just been re ferred to, namely the head 16,v the handle. 18, the rods 20 and the means for supporting and guiding the same, and the means for guiding the flexible cords 11,.are located below the table 1, and are therefore normally out of sight. i

Considerable difliculty is sometimes experienced in quickly returning the pins from prone to upright position in view of the peculiar action which takes place betweenthel annular pin bottoms and the flat surface of the bottom of the recess 8, there being a frequent tendency on the part of the vpins to wabble considerably while being disposed in playing or upright position. As a result I have provided a plurality of metallic leverage ribs 22, the same being disposed transversely of the table 1 within said recess 8. Inasmuch as the pins 7 are arranged in transverse rows, I dispose one of the ribs 22 adjacent to, and to the rear of, each row of pins when the same are in upright position. Thus when the pins have been knocked down into the recess 8, their lower or bottom end portions rest upon the ribs 22. Now when the handle 18 is moved outwardly with a consequent shifting of the head 16 and the flexible eords11, it will be seen that a lever action is exerted by the several ribs 22 to more quickly seat the pins in upright position.

This coperation between the pin -resetting mechanism and the ribs 22 is further increased therebetween by the addition of Vlongitudinally extending ribs- 23.. These ribs are positioned longitudinally of the alleyway 3 and are located in position one on each side of each longitudinal row of pins.V

Each of said pins at the points where it engages the ribs 22`and 23, is provided with an annular wear band 24.

The article which has been projected toward the pins 7 is permitted to enter the ball receiving pocket 6 from the rear end of thel table 1 from whence it may be returned to the oppositeend of the table by a return chute 25. From Figs. 3 Vand t it will be seen that this chute consists of a relatively narrow inclined grooved strip hinged as at 26 to the discharge end of the pocket 6. When the apparatus is in use the opposite or free end of the chute is placed'below the bottom of the table 1 and is held and supported in this position by a swinging bracket 27. However, when the apparatus is to be shipped or stored the legs 2 are removed and the chute 25 folded against the table Y bottom, the bracket 27 occup ing the broken line position illustrated in glia. 3. A very compact table is the result of t is.

What is claimed is:

1..In a game apparatus, ak supporting floor, a pin disposed on said floor and adapted to be knocked from upright to prone position and to be disposed substantially longitudinally of the floor when in the last mentioned position, a rib disposed transverselyl of the floor, the pin resting thereon when in prone position, and means coperating with said rib to move the pin from prone to upright position.

2. In a game apparatus, a floor provided with apin receiving recess, a pin disposed in said recess and resting on the bottom thereof, said` pin being relatively housed Vtherein when 1n prone position, a Vrib disposed transversely ofthe floor kin said recess and below `the floor surface,'the pin resting on. said rib when Ain pronelposition, and means coperating with said rib to raise the pin from prone to uprightposition.

n 3..In a gameapparatus, a supporting floor,

a pin disposed on said floor and adapted to be knocked from uprightl to prone position andvto .be disposed substantially lontion, and means eoperating with said ribs to raise thepin from prone to upright'position.

4. In a game apparatus, a supporting floor,

a pin disposed-on lsaid floor and adapted tion and to be disposed substant1ally longitudinally of the floor when inthe last mentioned position, a metallic., Arib disposed transversely of the floor and having the pin v 4to be knocked from upright to prone posiresting thereon when in prone position, a wear band around the portion of the 'pin which engages said rib,and means coperating with said rib to vraise the pin from prone to upright position.

5. In a game apparatus, a floor provided with an opening therethrough, a pin adapted to stand in upright position on said floor and to be knocked to prone position, a movable cross-head, a relatively rigid rod eX- tending from the head, a transverse guide slidably supporting the intermediate portion of the rod, and a flexible connection between the end of the rod and the pin, said connection being extended through said opening.V v

6. In a game apparatus, a 'loor adapted to have pins placed thereon at one end and balls or the like rolled thereover toward said pins, a ball receiving pocket at the pin end of the floor, a return chute hinged at one end to the outlet of said ball pocket, the chute being inclined when in use and the end opposite the hinged end being disposed below the end of the floor opposite the pin end, and means for moving the last end of the chute into the under side of the fioor when not in use.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin. f l

HUGO LOEWENBACH. 

